How do you display your shells?

[ex-traveler]

I dont know how anyone else stores their sea shells, but I like to store my smaller sea shells in plastic boxes that I display at an angle face up in an enclosed book case.  That allows me to see them better.  The book cases are placed so that they do not get direct sunlight.  Anyway, when I was in Hawaii I found a store that sold the small plastic boxes individually.  Unfortunately I can't find a local store that sells them.  Now all the places I can find on the internet sell them in lots of 1,000, way too many.  <img src="images/icones/icon10.gif" alt="images/icones/icon10.gif" style="border:0" /> I was wondering if anyone knew of a place that sold the small plastic boxes in lower quantities. I have some of the larger plastic boxes for nuts and bolts to store my duplicates, but the smaller boxes work much better in my display.  I would appreciate any information anyone may have.
Thanks in advance
Tom (Ex-Traveler)

[marlo]

For several discussions on shell storage and display topics, go to:

<a href="http://z14.invisionfree.com/Conchologist_Forum/index.php?showforum=31" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://z14.invisionfree.com/Conchologist_Forum/index.php?showforum=31">http://z14.invisionfree.com/Conchologis ... owforum=31</a><!-- m --></a>

marlo

[carloscarvalho]

Tom, Actually it is a problem! Recently I bought some trays with 77 square places (17X17X 5mm), made to keep small coins. Each tray  has a plastic cover, that magnetised, pushed the little shells up, so I put a 2mm thick glass under the plastic and got a very good way to keep my small shells. Search ebay for coin trays. The cost is around 3 pounds each.
Regards
Carlos

[dave r]

This company in England do sell plastic boxes but they are not cheap:
<a href="http://www.watdon.co.uk/the-naturalists/acatalog/Clear_plastic_boxes.html" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.watdon.co.uk/the-naturalists/acatalog/Clear_plastic_boxes.html">http://www.watdon.co.uk/the-naturalists ... boxes.html</a><!-- m --></a>
Otherwise chack out the website of the British Shell Collectors Club, our secretary also sells them and I think they are cheaper.
Dave

[dave r]

Oh, and if you go on my facebook page you can see how I display my shells. Type in Dave Rolfe, I am the one in the Guns n Roses tee shirt!

[ex-traveler]

I would like to thank you all for your comments.  It gives me some ideas to work on.
Thanks again
Tom

[rbs5]

I have been storing my cypraea collection in small plastic bags similar to those used by dealers with the data tag in its own separate bag to keep it from coming into contact with the shell itself. I've recently commissioned my first cabinet and have started to transition some of them into small plastic hinged boxes with polyester foam inserts. I originally choose black as opposed to blue for aesthetic reasons but have heard from two sources that this color damaged the shell surface that came in contact with it over time. As a precaution I've put a piece of polyester felt between the shell and the pad. All of my boxes were purchased from Althor (<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.althor.com/">http://www.althor.com/</a><!-- m -->)  in NY and they were very friendly with me over the phone. They also provided me with a catalog which made deciding on sizes a little easier. I could not find a good size for larger shells but they have several excellent options for smaller shells under 2 inches. They stock several sizes continuously and will sell you smaller lots of them. One of the sizes I wanted could only be purchased as a production run of 250 boxes but I have been able to use most of them and will surely use them all eventually. Their web order form states a minimum order of $100 but I have placed smaller orders over the phone. Perhaps this is an option?

Rex

[tom heimer]

Glass shelves fastened (securely! I found out....) to the wall. You can see most of each shell. Keep out of direct sunlight.